Earn 15% by shopping online this week with Rakuten

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If you make purchases online, this week is an especially good time to start using Rakuten. As part of its Big Give Week promotion running from May 4 through May 11, Rakuten is offering an elevated 15% cash back at hundreds of retailers, including Expedia, adidas, Ulta Beauty, PetSmart, Skechers and DSW.

On top of that, new Rakuten users can currently earn a $50 welcome bonus after spending $50 through the shopping portal within the first 90 days of signing up. This is matched with the highest-ever referral bonus we've seen, making now a great time to get started if you haven't signed up already.

Big Give Week is a limited-time savings event where participating Rakuten stores offer elevated cash back rates for one week only. From May 4 through May 11, 2026, members can earn up to 15% cash back at hundreds of stores across categories like travel, fashion, beauty, home, electronics, shoes and more. Featured retailers include Adidas, Ulta Beauty, DSW, LEGO, Expedia, PetSmart, Lenovo, Ray-Ban, KitchenAid and Viator, though offers can vary by store.

With Mother's Day landing right after the event ends, it's also a smart window for picking up gifts — beauty sets, jewelry, handbags, home goods and flower delivery are all common Big Give Week categories.

And if you're planning summer travel, hotels, vacation packages, tours and luggage are all worth checking through Rakuten before booking elsewhere.

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Rakuten is a free online shopping portal that partners with more than 3,500 popular retailers, like Backcountry.com, Sephora, Nike, Macy's, Expedia, and more, allowing you to earn rewards every time you shop.

The shopping portal lets you earn cash back or travel rewards — in the form of either American Express or Bilt points — on everyday purchases.

For travelers in particular, Rakuten is a game-changer, because it turns your online shopping into a steady stream of points and miles you can later redeem for flights and hotel stays.

Using Rakuten takes less than an extra minute of your time. Instead of going to the retailer’s website directly, you start your shopping journey through Rakuten.com, its mobile app, or the Rakuten Chrome browser extension.

When you click through Rakuten to make a purchase, it tracks the sale and rewards you with a percentage back. You're then taken directly to the retailer's website and continue your shopping experience as you would normally. The website is exactly the same, and so are the prices. The only difference is that you are now earning cash back, Amex Membership Rewards points, or Bilt points.

Getting started with Rakuten is quick and simple:

• Click on a referral link to create a free Rakuten account.
• Select your earning preference: cash back, American Express Membership Rewards points, or Bilt points.
• Spend $50 or more through Rakuten within the first 90 days of signing up to qualify for the $50 sign-up bonus. This particular bonus goes through June 30, 2026, so you'll want to make sure to sign up by this date.

Remember that you must use a ​referral link​ to get this $50 offer, so you can either use ours here at Points Path (and we greatly appreciate it if you do), or you can ask your friends and family who already use Rakuten for one. (Not all current referral links are offering the $50 bonus, so make sure you use one that shows this best offer.)

It's as simple as that. And once your purchase is confirmed by the retailer, your rewards typically hit your account within a few days (although some retailers can take a few months).

And to make sure you're never missing out, you'll want to install the Rakuten Chrome browser extension. Then, every time you're on a partner retailer's site, you'll receive a small pop-up reminding you to activate your rewards. It'll also inform you of any coupon codes or promotions, allowing you to stack your savings.

For frequent online shoppers or travelers booking flights and hotels, this tool ensures you never miss out on extra cash back or points. Just note that Rakuten pays out quarterly, so you won't receive a check or a transfer of points after every single purchase.

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Travel lighter without sacrificing the essentials

Most Rakuten shoppers opt for cash back, but for those who understand the value of points and miles, there's an even better option: earning Amex Membership Rewards or Bilt points at a 1-to-1 ratio.

Here’s what that means: If a retailer offers 15% cash back, you can instead earn 15 Amex Membership Rewards or 15 Bilt points per dollar spent. This means if you spend $100 at that specific retailer, you'll earn 1,500 points.

Note that the earning rate for Bilt points will drop from 100 points per $1 to 50 points per $1 in Rakuten cash back after May 15, 2026, except for those with Bilt status of Silver or higher (who will continue earning at the full rate).

A new way to turn everyday online shopping into travel points

Both points currencies hold incredible value as each program allows you to transfer points to a wide range of travel partners. With Amex, points can be transferred to 20 travel partners, including Aeroplan, British Airways, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and more.

Bilt, on the other hand, partners with 25 travel partners, including Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, United, Southwest, Air Canada Aeroplan, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and many more.

If you value either Amex or Bilt points at around 2 cents apiece, the 1,500 points earned are worth $30. If you prefer to earn cash back instead, that same purchase will earn you $15 in cash back.

When signing up with Rakuten, your account will automatically be set to cash back. If you prefer to earn points, you'll need to change your earning preference in your account settings and select the "Switch to Membership Rewards points" option. You'll then need to connect your Amex or Bilt account. Only cash back earned going forward will convert to points, not cash back that has been previously earned.

Rakuten is one of the simplest and most effective tools to stack your savings when shopping online. And during Big Give Week, the value proposition becomes even stronger, with elevated earning rates at hundreds of retailers from May 4 through May 11 — in addition to the $50 new-member bonus.

For travelers, the Membership Rewards and Bilt option is the real standout. Turning everyday purchases into a steady stream of airline miles and hotel points can unlock incredible travel opportunities at no extra cost.

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